Questions of pilgrimage

Before I left Wisconsin, I posted questions that arose in my mind regarding pilgrimage. This computer is VERY slow - and we pay for time on it, so I am not going to open a new window and search for the post to get the exact wording. However, there was something in there about "Who am I willing to become?"

Coincidentally enough (or not), Rinpoche began us off in Delhi with a teaching on personality. It is far too rich to go into here, but a few points bear on my own question. She spoke of personality as a set of habitual ways and strategies we use to interact in our life. We keep using the same set over and over - even the obviously dysfunctional ones - and identify them as ourselves. "This is my personality. It is how I am." However, that is not true. Our true selves are not our personality. We can change strategy. Hence, we can change personality. First we have to realize it is a choice. Rinpoche enjoined to hold our personality lightly - like meringue - and not lean too heavily on it. Use it skillfully, realizing it is a tool, but not us. Be ready to change it as indicated.

Rinpoche added to this insight when she taught here in Varanasi on impermanence and death. One reason we fear death is because we mistakenly identify this personality, which is impermanent and will be gone at our death, as ourselves. If we align with reality and do not hold so tightly to our personality, we will not fear death. It is about living without fear and transforming. so now it circles back to the original question.....Who am I willing to become?

To be continued.......

may there be a rain of dharma